When we first dreamed up Break-In Dance Fest, it was never meant to be just a performance.

Of course, performance matters. The stage is where ideas come alive, where choreography meets an audience, where dancers and makers take the risk of being seen. But for so many independent choreographers, a single performance opportunity is rarely enough.

The bigger question has always been: What happens after the curtain falls?

As Break-In Dance Fest returns this August 6–7, 2026 at The MATCH in Houston, we’ve been thinking deeply about what Texas-based artists truly need in order to build not only work, but careers, and communities, that can last.

BOOT Dance Project has participated in a dance festival, and before that, our founder, Jessie Ferguson, had the opportunity to take part in and observe several others. Through these experiences, one thing became clear—while festivals can be great for showcasing work, they don’t always create lasting opportunities for artists beyond the performance itself.